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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · club · rush · key · swing · nail · clip · board

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. clip — a video
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. club — a group
  5. swing — to play on
  6. board — a committee
  7. clip — for paper
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. club — for golf
  12. key — for a lock
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. club — for dancing
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. swing — in golf
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. clip — to cut
  22. swing — music
  23. rush — hurry
  24. nail — on a finger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com